Tamper resistant package

Abstract

A tamper resistant package comprises a packaging enclosure in the form of an open-ended sleeve or carton with a plurality of product packs inside the enclosure engaging the interior surface thereof. Each of the product packs includes outer wrap material at least a portion of which is secured to the interior surface of the enclosure. Upon removal of a product pack from the enclosure at least a portion of the outer wrap material remains within the enclosure thereby destroying the integrity of the outer wrap material which effectively prevents the product packs from being removed from the package and individually sold. The wrapping material is disturbed sufficiently so that the pack is not suitable for sale after being separated from the enclosure.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to packaging for a plurality of product packs, each pack having outer wrap material, and more particularly to a tamper resistant package that effectively prevents the product packs therein from being removed from the package and individually sold by destroying the integrity of the outer wrap upon removal of a pack from the package.

[0002] Product packs such as cigarettes packs are normally sold as single packs or by the carton. At times it is desirable for promotional purposes to market multiple product packs with one or more packs in the package being given away free with the purchase of the entire package. Such packages may include multiple product packs less than the number of packs normally included in a carton, or a carton of packs may be promoted where one or more of the packs in the carton are free of charge. Promotional activities may include a buy one get one free approach where a packaging sleeve is used having two pack-receiving pockets. Other promotions include buy two packs and get one free where a packaging sleeve is used having a single pack in one pocket and two packs in another pocket. Still other promotions include several free packs in the standard ten pack carton.

[0003] One of the problems associated with such marketing programs is the temptation to remove the free packs from the packaging and to sell those packs as individual items at full price thereby circumventing the promotional objectives of the manufacturer. Hence, there is a real need for tamper resistant packaging that functions to strongly discourage the breaking up of multiple product packs and thereby prevent sale of the packs individually.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is tamper resistant packaging that effectively prevents sale of packaged product packs except as contemplated by the manufacturer of such packs.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is tamper resistant packaging that is easy to assemble, but highly effective in preventing unauthorized disassembly of the package.

[0006] Still another object of the present invention is a tamper resistant package that destroys the integrity of the outer wrap material on the product packs when the packs are removed from the package.

[0007] Still another object of the invention is a method of producing a highly effective tamper resistant package.

[0008] In accordance with the present invention, a package comprises a packaging enclosure having an interior surface with a plurality of removable product packs inside the enclosure engaging the interior surface thereof. Each of the packs includes outer wrap material at least a portion of which is secured to the interior surface of the enclosure. Upon removal of a product pack from the enclosure at least a portion of the outer wrap material remains within the packaging enclosure thereby destroying the integrity of the outer wrap material.

[0009] The packaging enclosure may comprise an open-ended packaging sleeve having a plurality of pack-receiving pockets with one or more product packs in each of the pockets. The packing sleeve may include two pockets with a single pack in each pocket, or a two pocket arrangement with a single pack in one pocket and two packs in the other pocket, for example.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, open-ended packaging sleeves include dots or strips of adhesive on the interior surface thereof that secure a portion of the outer wrap material of each product packs to the sleeve. Those portions of the outer wrap material remain within the sleeve when the packs are removed.

[0011] The packaging enclosure may also comprise a carton constructed and arranged to receive two rows of product packs, each row comprising a plurality of packs. Preferably each of the two rows comprises five product packs. Moreover, the carton may include opposite side walls and opposite interconnecting end walls with dots of adhesive or adhesive strips extending across the interior surface of each side wall that functions to secure a portion of the outer wrap material of each product pack to the carton. Additionally, the carton may include a top wall with a plurality of spaced apart openings therein, one directly above each product pack within the carton to thereby provide access to the packs for individually pushing them out and away from the carton. In an alternative embodiment the carton is constructed and arranged to receive one row of five product packs.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer wrap material of each product pack includes a weakened line of separation between top and bottom portions of the outer wrap. Upon removal of a product pack from the packaging enclosure the outer wrap separates at the weakened line thereby leaving a portion of the outer wrap secured to the interior surface of the enclosure while a portion of the outer wrap remains with the removed product pack. Such destruction of the integrity of the outer wrap material effectively prevents the packs from being sold as individual items.

[0013] The present invention also includes a method of producing a tamper resistant package comprising the steps of forming a packaging enclosure, filling the enclosure with a plurality of product packs each of which has outer wrap material, and securing at least a portion of the outer wrap material of each product pack to the interior surface of the packaging enclosure such that upon removal of a product pack from the enclosure at least a portion of the outer wrap material remains secured to the enclosure. Adhesive may be used to secure the outer wrap material to the packaging enclosure. Such adhesive may be applied to the interior of the enclosure or to the outer wrap of the product packs, but regardless of where the adhesive is applied the important feature is that the adhesive is between the outer wrap of the product packs and the interior surface of the packaging enclosure. Upon removal of a product pack from the enclosure at least a portion of the outer wrap material remains within the enclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Novel features and advantages of the present invention in addition to those mentioned above will become apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a multi-pack packaging sleeve with portions thereof broken away to illustrate the tamper resistant relationship between the packaging sleeve and the packaged packs therein, according to the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the multi-pack packaging sleeve and the packaged packs of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a right side elevational view of the multi-pack packaging sleeve and the packaged packs of FIG. 1, with portions thereof broken away to illustrate interior details and one of the packs removed from the packaging sleeve;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of another multi-pack packaging sleeve with portions thereof broken away to illustrate the tamper resistant relationship between the packaging sleeve and the packaged packs therein, according to the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the multi-pack packaging sleeve and the packaged packs of FIG. 4;

[0020] FIG. 6 is right side elevational view of the multi-pack packaging sleeve and the package packs of FIG. 4 with portions thereof broken away to illustrate interior details and with one of the packs removed from the packaging sleeve;

[0021] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another multi-pack package sleeve and a pair of packaged packs, according to the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 8 is front elevational view of a ten-pack carton with portions thereof broken away to illustrate the tamper resistant relationship between the carton and the packed packs in the carton, according to the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the carton and packaged packs of FIG. 8;

[0024] FIG. 10 is a right side elevational view of the carton and packaged packs of FIG. 8, with portions thereof broken away to illustrate interior details and one of the packs removed from the carton;

[0025] FIG. 11 is a top plan view of another carton, according to the present invention; and

[0026] FIG. 12 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 8, but illustrating the adhesive in the form of strips applied to portions of the interior surfaces of the packaging enclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Referring in particularity to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a multi-pack tamper resistant package 10 comprising a packaging enclosure 12 having an interior surface 14 with a plurality of product packs 16 within the enclosure engaging the interior surface thereof. The product packs may comprise packs of cigarettes although other such packs are equally suitable for packaging within the enclosure. Such other product packs may include candy, over-the-counter drugs as well as other consumer goods such as toothpaste, dental floss, shaving cream and deodorant to name a few. The packaging enclosure 12 may be fabricated from a variety of different materials, such as paperboard, for example.

[0028] The packaging enclosure 12 of FIGS. 1-3 fundamentally comprises an open-ended sleeve with two pack-receiving pockets 18, 20. Pack-receiving pocket 18 is dimensioned to receive a single product pack 16 while the other pocket 20 of the sleeve is dimensioned to receive two product packs in back-to-back relationship. Pocket 18 includes opposite side walls 22 and opposite end walls 24 while pocket 20 includes opposite side walls 26 and opposite end walls 28. Each pocket includes one or two partial top walls 30 in the form of triangular segments that extend between the side and end walls, as shown best in FIG. 2.

[0029] Several dots of adhesive 32 extends across one of the side walls 22 of the single pack-receiving pocket 18, and similar dots of adhesive 32 extend across the interior of each of the side walls 26 of the pack-receiving pocket 20 holding the two product packs. Moreover, these adhesive dots are located on an upper portion of each side approximately within the upper one third of the height of the packaging sleeve.

[0030] Each product pack 16 includes flexible outer wrap material 34, and in the case of cigarette packs such outer wrap material normally includes a tax stamp and may include printed indicia applied by the manufacturer in various forms such as lot numbers and the like.

[0031] When the tamper resistant package 10 is assembled, the product packs 16 are inserted into the pack-receiving pockets 18, 20 of packaging enclosure 12 until the upper portions of the packs engage the triangular shaped top walls 30 of each pocket. The outer wrap material 34 is secured to interior surface 14 of the pack-receiving pockets 18, 20 where the dots of adhesive 34 have been placed beforehand. With this arrangement the upper portion of the outer wrap material 34 of each product pack 16 is secured to the interior of the packaging enclosure 12. Accordingly, upon removal of product packs 16 from the pockets of the enclosure the upper portion of the outer wrap 34 breaks away from the pack and remains within the enclosure while the lower unsecured portion of the outer wrap is removed with the product pack. Assuming certain indicia and the required tax stamp have been positioned on the portion of the outer wrap remaining with the packaging sleeve, the removed product pack has the appearance of being opened due to destruction of the integrity of the outer wrap material.

[0032] The packaging sleeve of FIGS. 1-3 may be used in promotions by the manufacturer of the packs such as a buy two get one free promotion. One of the problems with such marketing programs is the temptation to remove the free pack from the packaging sleeve and then sell that pack as an individual item at full price. Obviously, this process circumvents the promotional goals of the manufacturer. However, with the tamper resistant package 10 of FIGS. 1-3 such practices are effectively prevented because any such unauthorized removal of the product packs 16 from the package destroys the integrity of the outer wrap material 30 which virtually makes it very difficult to sell that pack as an individual item.

[0033] Preferably, the outer wrap material 34 of each product pack 16 includes a weakened line of separation 36 between the top and bottom portions of the outer wrap. In the case of cigarette packs, the line may be located near the top of the pack at the juncture of the lid and the bottom portion of the pack. Upon removal of a product pack from the package, the outer wrap 34 separates at the weakened line 36 thereby leaving the upper portion secured to the interior surface 14 of sleeve 12 while the lower portion of the outer wrap material remains with the removed product pack.

[0034] The outer wrap material comprises a thin transparent film traditionally used for outer wrap purposes. Moreover, the weakened line of separation 36 may comprise a perforated or cut line that extends around each product pack 16. Tear tape may be placed on the outer wrap material covering the perforated or cut line which tape acts as a seal.

[0035] An additional feature of package 10 is that the product packs 16 are automatically opened when the outer wrap material separates at the weakened line 36. There is no need for the consumer to pull the tear tape or discard the removed outer wrap material and tear tape which remains within the packaging enclosure 12.

[0036] Strips of adhesive may be used as an alternative to the adhesive dots 32. Specifically a strip of adhesive may extend across one of the side walls 22 of the single pack receiving pocket 18 and similar strips of adhesive may extend across the interior of each of the side walls 26 of the pack-receiving pocket holding the two product packs. Moreover, hot melt adhesive may be used to form the dots or strips just prior to assembly or heat-activated adhesive may be used with the application of heat to set the adhesive after assembly of the package. The heat-activated adhesive may be applied in the form of a coating applied to at least a portion of the interior of the enclosure. This coating could me made of any suitable material including by way of non-limiting example polyethylene. It should be understood that the term “adhesive” as used herein refers to not only traditional adhesives such as glues, but also to any other suitable material that will form a bond between the pack outer wrap and the surrounding enclosure. However, the important feature is that the adhesive be positioned between the interior of the pack-receiving enclosure and the exterior of the outer wrap material. Accordingly, the adhesive may be directly applied to the outer wrap material as an alternative to applying adhesive to the interior of the packaging enclosure.

[0037] FIGS. 4 and 5 also illustrate a multi-pack tamper resistant package 40 having a configuration similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-3. Accordingly, similar reference characters have been used to identify similar parts. One difference with respect to package 40 is that the top wall of each pack-receiving pocket is different in that it comprises rectangular segments 42 instead of the triangular segments shown in FIGS. 1-3. However, these rectangular segments only partially cover the top of each pack-receiving pocket. The single pocket 18 includes one rectangular segment 42 extending between the opposite end walls 24 and one of the side walls 22 while the two pack pocket 20 includes two spaced apart rectangular segments 42, each extending between opposite end walls 28 and one of the side walls 26. Dots of adhesive 32 are applied in the interior of the top rectangular segments 42 to secure the outer wrap to these top segments. Otherwise, the tamper resistant package 40 of FIGS. 4 and 5 functions in the same manner as package 10. Accordingly, upon removal of a product pack 16 from the package the integrity of the outer wrap is destroyed in that the upper portion of the outer wrap material remains within the packaging enclosure.

[0038] FIG. 7 illustrates another multi-pack package 44 which is very similar to package 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3. The only significant difference is that each of the pack-receiving pockets 46, 48 is dimensioned to receive a single product pack, otherwise the packages are the same and function in the same manner. Package 44 may be used in a buy one, get one free promotion.

[0039] As described above, strips of adhesive may be used as an alternative to the adhesive dots 32. Moreover, hot melt or heat activated adhesive may be used, and the adhesive may be applied to the outer wrap instead of the interior of the packaging enclosure.

[0040] FIGS. 8-10 illustrate another multi-pack tamper resistant package 50 comprising an enclosure 52 having an interior surface 54 with a plurality of product packs 16 within the enclosure engaging the interior surface thereof. The packaging enclosure comprises a standard ten pack carton with the product packs arranged in two rows with five packs in each row. Other arrangements may also be used such as a five pack carton where five product packs are aligned in a single row, for example. The packaging enclosure may be fabricated from a variety of different materials, such as paperboard, for example.

[0041] Packaging enclosure 52 includes opposite side walls 56, opposite interconnecting end walls 58, and top and bottom walls 60, 62, respectively. Dots of adhesive 64 extends across the interior of each of the side walls 56 along the upper portions thereof to secure the outer wrap material 34 of the product packs to the interior of the carton.

[0042] Fundamentally, the carton of FIGS. 8-10 is used in the same manner as the other embodiments described above and shown in FIGS. 1-7. Accordingly, upon removal of product packs 16 from the carton the upper portion of the outer wrap material 34 breaks away from the packs and remains within the carton while the lower unsecured portion of the outer wrap is removed with the product packs.

[0043] The weakened line of separation 36 may be the same as described above with the line at the junction of lid and bottom portion of the pack.

[0044] Carton 52 also includes another feature in the form of a plurality of spaced apart perforated cut lines 66 in the top wall 62 with one cut line directly above each product pack in the carton. When the perforations are broken an opening is provided into the carton directly above each pack for individually pushing the packs out and away from the carton. As shown in FIG. 10, the consumer simply breaks the perforated cut line with a finger and then pushes the packs out and away from the carton.

[0045] FIG. 11 shows a five pack carton 70 as noted above where five product packs are aligned in a single row. Otherwise carton 70 functions in the same manner as carton 50 and similar reference characters have been used to identify similar parts.

[0046] FIG. 12 shows a multi-pack tamper resistant package 80 similar to package 50 of FIGS. 8-10, the only difference being that adhesive strips 82 extend across the interior of each of the side walls 56 along upper portions thereof to secure the outer wrap material 34 of the product packs to the interior of the carton.

[0047] Here again, the cartons 52 and 70 may include adhesive strips instead of adhesive dots, and the carton 80 may use adhesive dots in lieu of adhesive strips. Moreover, the adhesive may be hot melt or heat activated, and the adhesive may be applied to the outer wrap as an alternative to application of adhesive to the interior surface of the carton.

[0048] It should be understood that the above detailed description while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description. For example, rather than using dots or strips of adhesive on the packaging enclosure or on the outer wrap material of the product packs, adhesive may be applied in the form of double faced adhesive tape, for example. Although the embodiments depicted herein show the upper one third of the packaging enclosure as the location for the adhesive dots or strips, the size and location may be varied depending on the size of the pack for which the invention is used. A complete separation of the pack wrapping material is not required. It is desirable only that the wrapping material be disturbed sufficiently that the pack is not suitable for sale after being separated from the enclosure.

Claims

1. A package comprising:

a packaging enclosure having an interior surface;

a plurality of removable product packs inside the enclosure engaging the interior surface thereof; and

each of the packs including outer wrap material at least a portion of which is secured to the interior surface of the enclosure such that upon removal of a product pack from the enclosure at least a portion of the outer wrap material remains secured to the enclosure.

2. A package as in claim 1 wherein the packaging enclosure comprises:

an open-ended packaging sleeve having a plurality of pack-receiving pockets; and

at least one product pack in each of the pockets.

3. A package as in claim 2 wherein the packaging sleeve includes two pack-receiving pockets with one product pack in each pocket.

4. A package as in claim 2 wherein the packaging sleeve includes two pack-receiving pockets with a single product pack in one pocket and two product packs in the other pocket.

5. A package as in claim 2 wherein the open-ended packaging sleeve includes an adhesive on the interior surface thereof that secures a portion of the outer wrap material of each product pack to the sleeve.

6. A package as in claim 1 wherein the packaging enclosure comprises:

a carton constructed and arranged to receive two rows of product packs, each row comprising a plurality of packs.

7. A package as in claim 6 wherein each of the two rows comprises five product packs.

8. A package as in claim 6 wherein the carton includes:

opposite side walls and opposite interconnecting end walls; and

dots or a strip of adhesive extending across an interior surface of each side wall that secure a portion of the outer wrap material of each product pack to the carton.

9. A package as in claim 8 wherein the adhesive is hot melt adhesive.

10. A package as in claim 8 wherein the adhesive is heat-activated adhesive.

11. A package as in claim 6 wherein the carton includes:

opposite sidewalls, top and bottom walls and interconnected end walls; and

wherein the top wall includes a plurality of spaced apart openings, one directly above each product pack within the carton providing access to the packs for individually pushing them out and away from the carton.

12. A package as in claim 1 wherein the packaging enclosure comprises:

a carton constructed and arranged to receive a single row of a plurality of product packs.

13. A package as in claim 12 wherein single row comprises five product packs.

14. A package as in claim 12 wherein the carton includes:

opposite side walls and opposite end walls; and

dots or a strip of adhesive extending across an interior surface of one side wall that secures a portion of the outer wrap material of each product pack to the carton.

15. A package as in claim 14 wherein the adhesive is hot melt adhesive.

16. A package as in claim 14 wherein the adhesive is heat-activated adhesive.

17. A package as in claim 12 wherein the carton includes:

opposite side walls, top and bottom walls and interconnecting walls; and

wherein the top wall includes a plurality of spaced apart openings, one directly above each product pack within the carton providing access to the packs for individually pushing them out and away from the carton.

18. A package as in claim 1 wherein the outer wrap material of each product pack includes:

a weakened line of separation between top and bottom portions of the outer wrap; and

whereby upon removal of a product pack from the packaging enclosure the outer wrap separates at the weakened line thereby leaving a portion of the outer wrap secured to the interior surface of the enclosure while a portion of the outer wrap remains with the removed product pack.

19. A method of producing a tamper resistant package of product packs each having outer wrap material comprising the steps of:

forming a packaging enclosure;

filling the packaging enclosure with a plurality of product packs; and

securing at least a portion of the outer wrap material of each product pack to the interior surface of the packaging enclosure such that upon removal of a product pack from the enclosure at least a portion of the outer wrap material remains secured to the enclosure.

20. A method of producing a tamper resistant package as in claim 19 wherein the step of securing at least a portion of the outer wrap material of each product pack to the interior surface of the packaging enclosure includes applying an adhesive to a portion of the interior surface of the packaging enclosure or to the at least a portion of the outer wrap material so as to create a bond therebetween.

21. A method of producing a tamper resistant package as in claim 20 wherein the adhesive is a hot melt adhesive.

22. A method of producing a tamper resistant package as in claim 20 wherein the adhesive is heat-activated adhesive.

23. A method of producing a tamper resistant package as in claim 19 further including the step of:

forming a weakened line of separation between top and bottom portions of the outer wrap material of each product pack such that upon removal of a product pack from the packaging enclosure the outer wrap separates at the weakened line thereby leaving a portion of the outer wrap secured to the interior surface of the enclosure while a portion of the outer wrap remains with the removed product pack.

24. A method of producing a tamper resistant package of product packs each having outer wrap material comprising the steps of:

forming a packaging enclosure blank;

applying an adhesive to the blank;

positioning a plurality of product packs on the blank such that at least a portion of the outer wrap material of each product pack is adhered to the surface of the packaging enclosure blank; and

folding the packaging enclosure blank around the plurality of product pack to form an enclosure such that upon removal of a product pack from the enclosure at least a portion of the outer wrap material remains secured to an interior surface of the enclosure.

25. A method of producing a tamper resistant package as in claim 24 wherein the adhesive is hot melt adhesive.

26. A method of producing a tamper resistant package as in claim 24 wherein the adhesive is heat-activated adhesive.

27. A method of producing a tamper resistant package as in claim 24 further including the step of:

forming a weakened line of separation between top and bottom portions of the outer wrap material of each product pack such that upon removal of a product pack from the packaging enclosure the outer wrap separates at the weakened line thereby leaving a portion of the outer wrap secured to the interior surface of the enclosure while a portion of the outer wrap remains with the removed product pack.